Association for American Indian Development calls for Gun boycott [Update 1]

In other news:

Hot on the heels of their announcement about their boycott of the video game "Gun", the AAID called today for a boycott of Atari's "Custer's Revenge" unless it, like the Activision title "Gun", is changed or recalled.

Says the AAID spokesperson when questioned about the validity of their charges: "Well if they refuse, then I'll just hold my breath. Some may even throw temper-tantrums or cry like babies. That'll show 'em."

"One can only hope that [the situation] doesn't degress so far."

Why not let any Native Americans who want to buy the game pay with disease-ridden blankets?

I think that would be fair.

Hey, we wiped out their nation pretty much, I say we give them whatever the hell they want.

You can't compare it to racism in other games because we didn't slaughter most of Italy or Africa.

The Native Americans who are alive today are damn lucky to be alive because back in the day, millions of them were slaughtered wholesale as though it were nothing. It was not the Native Americans who were the savages. Pick up "A People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn and read about American history from the losers' point of view--the Native American point of view.

Writing something that is fictional and also racist is little excuse when you are effectively pointing out that the slaughter of a race/nation of people was justified (or could seem justified) by their savagery.

I haven't played the game and don't intend to--but in the end it comes down to this: There's a handful of Native Americans alive today. Let them have what they want since we already have what we want. I don't think they're going to ask for anything we can't afford to give them. And if one lousy game goes away because of it, I think American culture will survive.

Amazing...But then again is it? It is very obvious why so many of you make ignorant remarks and are only able to grasp the very surface level of what is wrong with this game. Those of you who are of ethnic persuasion and draw comparisons to being a jew and the bible or being black and GTA have so lost touch with how this compares to us. Lets take it to that place that begins to be comparable to what GUN does for the original people of this continent. Instead of the Bible - my Jewish friends lets say Hitler and the ovens...Make you feel a little uncomfortable that some sick mind might come up with a game allowing the player to feel empowered from the sick brutalization of your people reducing you to a hiccup in history. As for black people...how convenient the analogy to GTA...Get real, this isn't a game about modern day stereotypes of American Indian people (ie:the player robbing an Indian casino or how many bottles of liquor can you steal from the drunk Indian) this about the clouded history of our past, which has yet to be told accurately in any history book to this day...(thus the abundant amount of completely ignorant posts here on this page), It would be far more accurate, my African American friend- to compare GUN- to the game that is in development, which pits you the slave owner against the savage native Africans you recently purchased and encourages you to deal with them (thus accumulating points in the game) by finding a tree and a rope and lettin' em fly high. Or you could be more "pc" and just whip them or better yet put a bullet through their skull. How many people who walked a mile during the civil rights marches when black people were still being LYNCHED, would have a real problem with that game. Would Mrs. King who just died yesterday...if still alive...allow for the legacy of her husbands fight against inequality and racism be remembered that way? No of course not... nor would several million black people in the United States either. So where are we not communicating what is wrong with this game accurately? WHERE...are you not seeing the correllations accurately? Is it because you have been raised with and taught a lack of the truth (ie:ignorance) regarding American Indian people and now you must embrace it- for it is all that you know? AAID is not trying take your video games away from you. AAID is not trying to come into your homes and tell you what you can and cannot do. We are asking you to remember that even though you may feel comfortable in the final military defeat of our people roughly 100 years ago - that we are still living on OUR homelands and though that no one is asking for you to not be American or to live in a "castle to embrace your Scottish roots"...At least today you could go to Scotland and stay in a castle or see that which your ancestors knew. No one is asking you go pick grapes in Italy or be a gladiator in the colliseum...but you could go there and still to this day see it and embrace those that are still there in your country. You sir, no matter how much it galls your gut or burns your spirit(and by the way it's okay...I'm not blaming you for this), are living everyday in a country built on top of thousands of little "Italys" and "Scotlands" each with their own unique customs, languages and beliefs. You are living in a country who knowingly used "Germ Warfare" (ie:smallpox) on American Indians and I won't get into the Pandoras box there. But point being...If you as a caring citizen of this country and really knew what it took to give you the life you have now and If history was taught that way - it wouldn't sell very good here in the USA would it? Sure, wouldn't do much for the war in Iraq, (isn't the murdering of innocent people through biological and chemical weapons- one of the reasons "why" we went to war with them?) So the more you are "dumbed down" and the more ignorant you are - all the better for everybody! And you say, and I summize..."Why can't you just be happy that we killed your people and gave you this great new way to live" and I say to you sir..."Most of us had no problem with how it was before and it has only been a daily struggle since. All we ask is...Do not mistake our experience in this land -for that of yours." If you read the comments above we even have ones of our own who embrace this and do not have the heart to stand up(ie: the ignorant person who said what happens in GUN was happening to Apaches and he is Paiute - so it didn't bother him. How painfully embarrassing to your ancestors.) So to all the comments above... for the most part...Great job you are a wonderful part of the system and doing your job 100%! Stay "dumbed down"- because thats how they justify all the things that they do...with your co-sign. However, there are several people who read what ignorance you write above and leave this site without the desire to become an active contributor to it on any level. I feel that I have overstayed my time here as well.
Last thing...The real problem here... at the bottom of it all is that this is not how the Creator would have us be or treat each other. So on any level...just stop no matter how good it can be explained away. If it causes anyone to hurt...just don't do it. One last thing - and something that this game does as one more way of promoting ignorance harmful to our religious beliefs...we don't hunt "White Buffalos" we protect and honor them as they are sacred to us. Again, I'm not blaming anyone- Really, How would you ever know that?
Blessings and strength.

People are just too sensitive about these kinds of things. IT'S A WORK OF FICTION. Geez! I like how some people pointed that a game like Gun that has stereotypes is bad, but oh, other games (I saw GTA and Wolfenstein listed) are okay. Nice double standards.

In my opinion, you're gonna waste a lot of time and effort being so PC. Lighten up, you might enjoy life a bit more.

Let my start off by saying all racism and prejudices are wrong, that being said the most important freedoms in this nation is free speech if we didn't have that none us could voice our own opinon now I can not imagine and won't pretend to to know the plit of native americans in this country. historically we have token away there land ,sent them on death marches at wounded knee, given them small pox ridden blankets. All of this is horrible and we should be ashamed of ourselves for doing so as a nation. But now in our time we have come upon another imortant issue civil liberties if we decide to censore the media we are setting our selvs up for a dictatorship. on the other hand we should be aware a tolerent of eah other. so i support the effort of the AAID to edcuate people on the immportance of respecting an learning about native americans cultre and exercising there free speech while at the same time disagreing but respecting actvision for exersicing there free spech.

I think it is very important that the genocide commited against Native Americans is portrayed accurate. It was one of the worst genocides in history.

If a game German-made game depicted Hitler and the Final Solution in a positive light, there would be an outcry.

Of course, there were good and bad Native Americans, just like any other ethnic group. I haven't played the game, so I don't know quite how the game does depict Native Americans, but one has to be very careful. It is EXTREMELY important that people understand the massacres commited by white Europeans in this period of history.

Yes, it is a work of fiction, but that's not the point. If the depictions verge on ethnic stereotyping and, effectively, racism, in a PERIOD PIECE (that is set in a historical, real world context), then there's a problem.

And the San Andreas example is slightly misleading. The fact remains that, in inner cities, there IS a strong gang culture in black communities, and this is reflected in the game (although perhaps in a overwhelming, stereotyping way).

While reading this I've come to somewhat understand how people feel about Native Americans and the pride they take in being one. Many white people will say we are ALL AMERICANS and we should forget the past and move forward. It was not their past that is being buried. Their past will live on forever due to their large population. People will show jealousy over their thriving businesses and casinos. People will complain about few tribes financial issues and feel they DESERVE part of their income. But no one is knocking at Bill Gates house demanding part of his income. Secondly, I've noticed how white people are not as in touch with their culture and heritage. Its not just about what race you are but its about how everyday life is lived, the traditions at gatherings, before buriel ceremonies, beliefs, and life conducted from a spiritual point of view. In that same sense they are with the beliefs of the bible, morals and manners of how you are to conduct yourselfs. I can say it is a game with things that should not be in there but there are racist comments and depictions and this is something that will not go quietly. They may have one the battle but they will not win the war. Native Americans are soverign people and everyone should sharpen up on what that means and how it came about. This includes the Governor. That election alone shows the point of intelligence we are at in this place and time. After all that is said and done. Yes, it is a game and for those who wish to purchase it and play it, by all means. Those who find the game offensive, I also understand but as a native people lets them have this battle and lets start working on other important issues that face our people.

i think it should be recalled for its stariotipicalness

i think it should be recalled for its stariotipicalness

you dont see the germans bitching about how you could kill em in Call of Duty 2

All i have to say is since about 1492 until 1980 nearly 298 million native americans have lost their lives at the hands of people who i will call Occupying Americans, more commonly know as plain ol' Americans. I think instead of complaining about the injustices that they face and how inaccurately they are portrayed, they should push developers to make more games where they get to scalp the white man and they get to rape Mary-Jane rotten crotch (thank you Full Metal Jacket). Also i would like to see a game where Native Americans cut off the hands and feet of fat Americans, not to murder them but just to get thier finger prints and foot prints to see if they can be linked to any previous crimes, or even better they can just start blaming heads of state for crimes they didnt commit and inprison them for life because they were not going along with the Native American plan...i can dream cant I ? maybe one day justice will be served

AngrySlav

If your going to make a game about faction why don't you put some truths on the same Video Game. Like Wounded Knee.

WOW! This whole argument makes everything so clear. What is missing in all of this is the element of sensitivity.
The Native Americans who descend from the very lucky few who survived the slaughtering of their people struggle every day in American Society. This is our homeland and we have no where else to go. I am fortunate to live in the land that my ancestors have descended from since time immorial. I come from a tribe where over 90% of our population was slaughtered.... Remember please that we are only Americans by force, it was never choice for us. I refuse to look at myself as American first........that will always be my second choice! It has been a long struggle for our people to come to where we are today.
I am not here to lay blame or hold people at fault. The road to healing our people also needs everyone to deal with these things and move past them. I think that in order to that we all need to deal with the truth of what happened and is happening. The history that is taught to the society as a whole is incomplete. The view people have of Native people today is faulty. We all need to unite for a well rounded history of where we come from and where we are heading. "to be ignorant of what happened before you were born, is to be forever a child." Continue on in ignorance, and continue harming people!
A game like GUN hurts the process for all people by continuing the stereotypes and inaccuracies that the Native community fight on a daily basis. These inaccuracies are ingrained from the past and continue today. If people continue thinking that we Native people just need to get over it, these inaccuracies will continue on into the future.
We all live in this place together, and we are still trying to figure out how to live here together in harmony. Take at least a moment to see past PCness and try to understand why people are having a problem with this game....... Take time to broaden your perspective to work together in a society that accepts all people in truth........

Boy, this was some of the saddest displays of racial insensitivity I've heard read anywhere. Its not real complicated. People are offended, please stop.
Don't come up with excuses which don't mean anything like "get over it" and "PC". That only means you're not interested in seeing the other side of some issue you disagree with.
Native Americans have suffered enough, your unkind comments are proof positive what these kind of games create in the way of perspective toward people of color.
Repent.

Guwatsi Hoba, Naidra. Hello Everyone, Thank you Creator for giving me the opportunity to write this and shed some light from a perspective...

What does one say to ignorance? What does one say when there are so many that comment and make light of such issues? What does one do when nothing but historically incorrect rhetoric rushes the masses minds and overcomes their ability to see that such subjects hurt many.This country was founded on blood, terrorism, and a doctrine which was created to justify that native people were savages and mere animals in order to "Christianize, Assimilate, and Terminate". Now, many may say that the Government has killed off 95% of us but the Government and other governments in the world have done this to other Indigenous people as well. Indigenous people here and all over the world continue to dwell, continue to strive, continue to survive amidst all the agendas on the minds of the collective. Even more important is that we continue to maintain our culture and way of life. One of our
greatest tribal leaders said, although society has killed our people, raped our women, indulged in inhumane acts against us, our spirits and souls
know no comformity and no universal boundaries.

Today, native people live in cities, and on reservations...with about 562 Federally Recognized tribes in the United States and many more
recognized by the states. Each of these tribes has its own culture and language. What does this mean you ask? Well, of the 95% that were not killed fought for their ancestral lands and gained recognition by the Federal Government. Now this means that the Federal Government recognizes that we are ALIVE...it recognizes that
we as a people are guaranteed the right to freedom of religion, freedom of culture...and that we as a native people are guaranteed something called Sovereignty (look it up), that we are domestic dependent nations...that we are dual citizens...first a citizen to that our beloved culture and way of life, our tribal life, and second citizens of the United States...a country founded on our blood.

Many in the blog comment that we should get over our defeat and live like Americans. But what you fail to see is that your ancestors who came across Ellis Island and other means never forgot their
ancestral homes in their hearts and continue to pass traditions on. What people love about this place
is the ability of all people to express their culture whether it be Italian, German, Jamaican, Puerto Rican, and others. However, people don't like to see that we could all get along and respect each other. I wish I could take you to my tribe and see the harmonious and
outright respect we all could possibly have with each other. I wish you could see the look on peoples faces that come from all across the world and ever corner of the country to experience the dances that my people participate in to give thanks and appreciation for the
life and blessings that the Creator has imparted on all of us. I wish that you could see that at that very moment we dance, that the observers that come to see realize the importance of culture, not the kind portrayed by media, games, and the like, but see and feel a culture that leaves you feeling that there is hope out there in the world. I wish you could see the visitors marvel at how long our culture and
traditions have been alive and respect our ways so much that they never once will take a picture yet will tell other people about our true way of life.

Now I say to all these gamers and the ones who claim that they honor us, or rather commercialize us, I ask that you look to real history. If you want to blow up some people, why don't you depict the real...why don't you show the Massacre at Wounded Knee...where
more than 200 people of whom were women and children and injured men that were gunned down when a white flag was raised to represent peace...please represent all the women and men and children that were exposed to nuclear testing and now suffer from cancer (or dead)yet are the same weapons of mass destruction put in our tribal names...please represent the first president as going across the Delaware and giving small pox infested blankets and market it as the first time of bioterrorism, please show the incarceration of Leonard Peltier who was falsely accused of gunning down two FBI agents and who now sits in federal prison for freedom of speech and expressing his culture, please depict the Long Walk and the Trail of Tears, please depict all the beautiful young children stripped of their clothes, their language, their hair, their identity so that they could learn english and society's ways...please represent all the genocide that continues in the world, from the raping of mother earth's minerals to the murdering of innocent people in places like Chiapas...because that is the real, and
its about time we be real...Or better yet, visit our elders, visit our communities, hear our stories, and maybe, just maybe you will understand that when your lost in all your money and materialisms and nobody gives a damn about how you go out, you'll see that all you wanted was a person out there to respect you and see that you made a mark in this world, not out of blatant hate, ignorance, and greed, but out of the passion and love that each of us possesses.

I welcome all those that are willing to open their minds, their hearts, and their capabilities as a true
human to email me (tiff2mocs@yahoo.com) and I will be more than happy to share my culture as we all should.

May you all be blessed and your eyes opened to that
of the greed and hate that tends to consume the world...One day you will realize, I just hope its not
to late. Naidra (thank you) from a beautiful and proud
Santo Domingo Pueblo tribal woman, a citizen of the
United States, woman of this world...and soul of
the (wenima) universal.

I know that this is just a game to some people and it's up to the developer for it to be fact or fiction, etc., but I think what the AAID is trying to get across is that the 'Apache tribe' was being portrayed wrong in the game, not Native Americans as a whole, although it is a bit degrading to the native society. There are 600 tribes in America and all have different cultures, beliefs, rituals and practices. There are many games in which have native americans (and other races such as the african americans the germans, the japanese, etc.) in them and are generally stereotyped, or generally factual and have been generally accepted. But for a game to narrow it down to just a couple tribes and portray their cultures and beliefs all wrong, it becomes a personal attack and could result in a case of defamation.

I'm half blood native american and I come from the Agua Caliente tribe and I deal with a lot of racism and hardships just like anyone else. I'm not an alcoholic, i'm not a rapist, i don't have a gambling problem, i'm not rich, i'm not on the verge to commit suicide, i don't do drugs, etc... but i do have feelings and I am hurt by some of the comments on these postings about forcing natives into assimilation just like the government tried to for 500 years, hurtful stereotypes or just plain abusive comments. It's exactly what the government and society has made people's attitudes to be and for a game to uproar a cultural attack and for some of you to not see a tribe being hurt, then I don't know what it takes to show at least some sympathy for your American friends. When you go to college and you are to take an ethnics class, take native american studies. That will probably open up your eyes to what American government has done within the 500 year relationship that you don't see in grade school, movies, tv etc., and are still doing to the indigenous people. And only then will you see the Apache people's view.

On the other hand, if I picked up this game, I probably wouldn't be offended because I had no knowledge of the Apache tribe. But with the Apache people and the AAID boycotting that the game is a wrong portrayal of them, then by all means I support them. If it was my tribe, I'd be pissed off too only because it isn't right to attack just our culture and to portray us wrong publicly. If they changed the game a bit to where they are portrayed correctly then there wouldn't be a problem. Or, if they just used Indians in general and not focus on one or two particular tribes, then the game would be generally accepted in American soceity with less conflicts. Or if people are more supportive of a game being fictional, then why not just change the tribal name to a completely fictional name?

As for it being "just a game," i wouldn't go around saying, it's "just a tribe." It just isn't right.

Regardless of whether or not anyone shares the concerns of the Native Americans, the American Indian Development group should be commended for taking a very carefully researched and balanced stand on the matter.

This is the first time that I have ever seen an organisation representing a race or religion put forth a mature and reasoned arguement disputing content in a video game title.

so on the one hand, this makes me mad because it's stuff like this that is going to force my illini to change their mascot.

but on the other hand i'm thinking - have enough people actually bought or played this game that this is a real problem? Last I checked this wasn't selling like halo.

WTF!!! yo "SP"
The next time you want to exercise your right to freedom of speech, get your facts right! We Native Americans are stronger than you will EVER be and thats the truth! Stupidity is just a quality of yours that your can thank YOUR heritage for... so why dont you get your head out of your ass and do something worthwhile... like join the many Native American troops in Iraq! instead of hiding behind your ignorance!! As far as this video game goes... Who the hell cares? depictions of Native Americans will never be portrayed as we know ourselves, but as long as we know who we are it dont matter. My ancestors did not give up their lives for some video game, they fought and died for my freedom and equality!

35. travis you should DEFINITELY move to canada...natives here dont pay any taxes...at all..ever. No sales tax, property tax, income tax...none. They get free post secondary schooling and get a stipend for going to high school at all. Basically making it so their life is MADE for them. Pretty decent treatment considering the acts that started everything took place hundreds of years ago. Are the Italians paying the Greeks for all the shit that went down in ancient rome? Reparations are great but when is the debt settled? So everyone else has to pay forever for shit that went down in history...why can't people just leave games alone?!?!

OOOOOK... WTF is this sh*t? GMAN before you say anything get you f*ckin sh*t straight. I'm a Native American who pays TAXES... STATE TAXES, property taxes you name it... you know why? Because some of us DON"T live on the reservation. See this is stereotyping right there. I have to pay 13,000+ on State tax only and that is because of the casino money. We have it made? WOW you guys really dont know sh*t... Ya maybe if I did live on the Res. I wouldn't be paying all this but we do pay Federal and that usually runs... awwww about 1-5K and thats everyone... on the res. and off. You dont believe me, f*uck I'll give you the file info on my last 3 years of taxes. So we do pay sh*t? I'm sick you cry babies complaining that we don't when in reality we do. Besides, who told you we don't? I would like to know... where do you get this info.? The only time that can think of where we don't pay income taxes and sh*t, is maybe when the majority of Native Americans didn't have jobs... hence the reason why income/state taxes isn't paid by the Indians. Theres no money to claim. I have no problem with the game... ya its kinda discriminating but who cares.. its this TAXES SH*T that bothers me, especially when people don't have a damn clue.

people are so dumb deez dayz, I'm Native American, and i liked dat Game GUN... i wasn't freaked out by the whole scalping thing, that is so out dated, and still GUN is based on tha whole tombstone thing...you know like western... i guess people don't get that... you can't change what white people did in da past... cause its a fact...and the people who made the game based it on real facts that happened in that time era... so why are all tha natives trippin fo??? shii... its only a game...cause in my tribes, they didn't get scalped... and i know my grandparents before me are watchin down on me everyday, and they atched me play dat game... so i don't see what da problame-o is...jus get over tha fact that indians did get scalped...